I'm not going to lie. Shooting in full sun still kind of scares me a bit. But our life doesn't just happen at golden hour and there are SO many important moments - both big and small- that happen when the sun is high in the sky. There really is no secret to shooting in full sun, but there are some things to keep in mind when shooting during the middle of the day. Here are my 5 tips for shooting in full sun!

1. Pay attention to how the light falls.

When you're out shooting in full sun, it's super important to pay attention to how the light falls. Look at your scene and subject and see where the sun is the strongest or where there might be shadows. How you see the scene with your naked eye is how it will be captured, so if it's not looking too good, it might be best to move + find a new spot. The same thing goes for faces. Pay attention to how the light falls on your subject's face. Shooting portraits in the middle of the day is incredibly challenging because of the harsh light, shadows and hot spots the sun creates. Saving portraits for indoors or another location is probably ideal.

You've got shadows, why not use them, right? Playing with shadows and getting creative with your composure can really make a full sun photo amazing. Pay attention to how those shadows fall and see if you can use them to enhance your subject. Again, be sure to spot meter for your subject to ensure they are properly exposed!

Use open shade like it's your best friend! Look for umbrellas, awnings, buildings or groups of trees where there's some shade and place your subject along those areas! Or create your own shade by having your subject wear a hat or sunglasses!

Shooting in backlight is by far my favorite, but WAY more of our day happens when the sun is high in the sky. Figuring out a way to still record our memories when the light may not be just right is key! Play around, practice and get creative!